Greco-Roman Archaeology

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

"Okay, class, we're continuing with our pre-Roman cultures.

Today, we're looking at the city of Cerveteri, which was originally known as Caere. It was on a defensible site, above a coastal plain. The first evidence of settlement of the site come from finds of urns at two areas (Cava della Pozzolana and Sorbo) from the 8th and 9th centuries BC. Trade with the Greeks at Etrusco became increasingly common in the middle of the 8th century BC with standardised urns and pottery common in graves of the time. The town became Etruria's main trading centre during the 7th century BC, as well as increasing trade with other Greek colonies in Southern Italy and Sicily, and with the Corinthians. Locally manufactured products began to imitate imported Greek pottery.

Burials of the time became increasingly grand and jewelry and other products were of particularly fine manufacture, illustrating the continuing good fortunes of the city. At the height of its prosperity in the 6th century BC, the people of Caere (with the Carthaginians emerged debateably victorious from clashes with the Phocaean Greeks. Following the "Battle of the Sardinian Sea", captured prisoners were stoned to death in the city, apparently resulting in a plague. In recompense, athletic contests were held every year in the city to honour the dead who were later buried.

Following this historical violent outburst by the people of the city, trade once again flourished through the 5th century BC, partly in spite of the difficulties affecting Etruria during the period. Arguably, this is due to the paricularly good relations with Rome, a traditional ally.

In 253 BC, Caere allied to the Tarquinii lost a war with Rome and with it some of its territory, including the coastal area and ports so important for trade. With this loss, the area lost its wealth and power completely by the first century AD.


Now, homework. I want you to either pick Magna Graecia or the Latins, which are the two other pre-Roman civilizations. I'll chose one from each option to give a brief report to the class on Thursday, so we can go on and actually get to the beginning of the Roman civilization. Any questions?

Comments

Re: After Class

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

Daniel smiled back. "You're welcome. And I'm always interested in humiliating Jack. What does this particular humiliation involve?"

He laughed. "No, I hadn't heard that they were visiting. Do they know what sort of place they are coming to see?"

Re: After Class

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam laughed and it was more than a little evil. "I'm paying him fifty dollars and he's letting me design his condom fairy costume for Halloween. I need you to help blow up the condoms and with the glitter."

"I don't know. T...Murray has some idea, because he helped us out when Janet was...well, you know. Not sure if Uncle George knows."

Re: After Class

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

Daniel just blinked. "This is one of those things I should have asked what it entailed before agreeing to, isn't it? He's going as a condom fairy?"

Re: After Class

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"That'll teach you. After all these years, you should really know better, Daniel." She smirked and took another sip of coffee.

Sam gave a peal of laughter. "Yes. It started out when I asked him who made him the condom fairy after he handed me about seven of them--some of them glowed in the dark. Then I told him I'd pay him twenty dollars if he'd dress up like that for Halloween, and he counteroffered with fifty dollars and letting me design it."

"Right now, I'm thinking a pink unitard, unless you've got a better idea." She grinned.

Re: After Class

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

"You're right. I really should know better," he sighed.

"I'm not going to even ask why you were asking him that," he said, before choking on his coffee. "A pink unitard? No, I'm not sure I do have a better idea than that!"

Re: After Class

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"It's probably better that you don't," Sam replied. "It'll just make your head hurt."

"With glitter. And condom balloons. Oh, and we can't forget the wings! What's a fairy without wings?" She pulled out one of her notebooks and began making a list.

"Oh, as long as I'm here...remember that thing with the bomb where you had to read all the Phoenician, and then it turned out we were doing it backwards?"

Re: After Class

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

Daniel just looked at her, stunned. He wondered if Jack knew just what he was letting himself into for the sake of $50.

"Ah, yes, I do. Why?"

Re: After Class

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"I'm basing a simulation in shop class on that mission thing, and I need ideas about the code. I want them to be able to crack it, but to have to work at it a little."

Re: After Class

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

"Right," he looked thoughtful. "I suppose you don't just want to use the Phoencian number system for it then?"

Re: After Class

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"Would they be able to figure it out in one class period?"

Re: After Class

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

"Hmmm... possibly not," he said, looking thoughtful.

Re: After Class

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"Then that won't work. Darn it." She scowled into her coffee. "I can always go to the library, but I thought maybe you had some brilliant ideas."

Re: After Class

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

"You're talking to the guy who sent a girl with hayfever flowers, and thought it would be a great idea to seranade her whilst drunk," he said, raising his eyebrows. "I think it's safe to say that I'm a bit short on brilliant ideas at the moment."

Re: After Class

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam giggled. "Good point. If it makes you feel any better, Janet dared Jack and I to kiss at the last Refugees party, which we did. Next thing I know, I woke up next to him in bed in just a shirt and my underwear. I have no idea if I'm still a virgin. How humiliating is that? But this is an academic thing, not a romantic thing, so I thought there was still some hope."

Re: After Class

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

Daniel laughed. "I'm going to have to make it to one of these parties some time. I'm going to guess you're not holding one for Uncle George and Murray?"

Re: After Class

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"You absolutely are. We've missed you, you know." She walked over and hugged him, tightly. "And I'm not sure--I don't live in that room, so I'm not always informed ahead of time. I'm sure Jack or Charlie would know."

Re: After Class

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

Daniel hugged him back. "I've missed you too. I'm sorry for being such an idiot."

Re: After Class

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry you were such an idiot, too. Not that I was much better." She pulled back and took another sip of coffee. "I don't think I realized how big a change this would be when I decided to be...well...you know. Plus there's the whole thing with Dad, which I'm sure she told you about when you were in Colorado."

Re: After Class

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

He looked at her with sympathetic eyes. "Yeah, I know. I'm sorry, Sam. He was a good man."

Re: After Class

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, he was. Thanks." She sniffed and took another sip of coffee.

Re: After Class

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

Daniel passed across a box of Kleenex from his desk.

Re: After Class

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam tensed and looked in shock at the box, then remembered who she was talking to. Daniel. Right. This was okay. She took a tissue and wiped her eyes. "Thanks."

Re: After Class

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

He wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "Not a problem," he said. "If you ever need to talk, you can always come to me, okay?"

Re: After Class

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"Thanks," she said, leaning into him. This was better now that he so much larger than she was. Safe. "I guess you'd know all about it, wouldn't you?"

Re: After Class

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

He looked down at his feet, unconciously holding her tighter. "Yeah."